IMD Forecasts Above-Average Rainfall This Monsoon

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Monday that a western disturbance will bring relief from the scorching heat in northwestern and central India within three days. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra indicated that this weather system, along with moisture from the Arabian Sea, could result in thunderstorms in northwest India and rain in the western Himalayan region.

Mohapatra highlighted that Rajasthan and Gujarat experienced extreme heat with temperatures soaring between 45-50°C and enduring nine to twelve heat wave days. Delhi, southern Haryana, southwest Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab also faced significant heat, with maximum temperatures ranging from 44°C to 48°C over five to seven days.

Looking ahead, the IMD expects normal to above-normal minimum temperatures across most of India in June. The monsoon forecast suggests above-average rainfall for central India, while the entire country is likely to see above-average rains this season. Specifically, below-normal monsoon rainfall is predicted for northeast India, normal levels for northwest India, and above-normal rainfall for central and south peninsular regions.

The late May heat wave in northwest and central India resulted from several factors: insufficient rainfall, intensified dry and warm winds, and an anti-cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and nearby Gujarat.

On Sunday, the IMD issued alerts for extreme weather conditions. Rajasthan is expected to experience severe heatwave conditions from May 26 to May 28, with temperatures reaching dangerously high levels. Similar conditions are forecasted for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh, though a gradual reduction in intensity is expected after May 28.